74

MEDICAL AND SANITARY REPORT OF THE NATIVE ARMY OF MADRAS.

   The following return shows the rates of sickness, deaths, and invaliding, as
contrasted with previous years:—

   Surgeon H. M. G. Archdall was in medical charge of this corps during the
year and reports as under:—

Climate of
the station.

   Climate of the station. —The rainfall has been deficient and the thermometer has shown
a much higher degree of temperature for a longer time than is usual at this station; however,
with the exception of a slight outbreak of cholera in May last, the health of the station has been
fairly good. The outbreak of cholera cannot be traced to importation; at the time the disease
was prevalent all over the Mysore District, and it is quite probable that its appearance was owing
to some peculiar atmospheric influence.

Water-supply

   Water-supply ample and sufficient.

Sanitary
arrange-
ments.

   Sanitary arrangements have been properly attended to.

Diet.

   Diet. —Provisions in the earlier months of the year were moderately cheap and plentiful,
but for the last three months the various articles of food have about doubled in value. Vegetables
have not been so abundant this year owing to the failure of the monsoons. It is well known
that the sepoys, as a rule, do not enjoy a sufficiently varied and nutritive diet, this is principally
their own fault, allowing a number of followers to settle themselves on them; however, it is the
custom of the country, and I do not see any way of preventing it.

Vaccination.

   Vaccination properly kept up in the regiment.

Epidemic.

   Epidemic. —Cholera appeared in an epidemic form amongst the sepoys and followers in
May last. Amongst the men 7 cases occurred and 3 deaths, 77 were attacked amongst the
followers and 29 died. All those attacked were, as far as practicable, immediately removed
for treatment to the hospital tents which I had pitched about half mile north of the lines. As
before mentioned, the disease cannot be traced to importation, but I think it probable it was
owing to some peculiar atmospheric influence at the time obtaining all over the Mysore
District.

Hospitals
ventilation.

   Hospital ventilation good and sufficient. No overcrowding.

Hospital
drainage.

   Hospital drainage good.

Hospital
water- supply.

   Hospital water-supply ample and sufficient.

Genera1
conclusions.

   General conclusions.— The greater number of admissions during the year were for ague.
Total number admitted (for all diseases) was 333, including 37 in the detachment hospital,
against 314, including 31 in detachment hospital, in 1875; and 7 deaths, including 1 in the
detachment hospital, against 6, including 1 in the detachment hospital, during the same year.
On the whole, with the exception of the mild epidemic of cholera before mentioned, the health
of the regiment has been good during the year.

   Deputy Surgeon-General P. G. FitzGerald, M.D., inspected this corps on, the 10th November 1876 and reports as follows:—

Sanitary
condition of
the lines as
to cleanli-
ness, venti-
lation, &c.

   Sanitary condition, of the lines as to cleanliness, ventilation, &c .—The drainage is natural,
the inclination of the ground facilitating drainage, which is fairly affected by means of shallow
drains simply excavated in the soil. The lines however would be much better with properly
constructed V-shaped masonry drains; the drains discharge themselves into a nullah to the east
of the lines. One or two house-drains connect each hut with the street drain. The ventilation
of the huts is only effected by the door on one side and the crevices between the tiles on the
other, which appears to be practically sufficient in a climate such as that of the French Rocks,